A Heated Debate Between Two Charismatic Geniuses: A Cardinal Fan (Jeff Lung) and a Tiger Fan (Allen Krause)

A loaded topic like this can really only take us in one direction: The weirdness that is the World Baseball Classic. Pedroia and Jeter trotting off the field together after a put-out at second base? That just doesn’t look right. Wright and Rollins manning the left side of the infield? Did I miss something?

Now, I realize that this weirdness can also happen during the All-Star Game but that’s a once a year freak-fest where the players wear odd uniforms and the outcome has taken on a disproportionate level of importance.

This is the World Baseball Classic, the World Cup of Baseball. I want drama. I want to watch MLB teammates like Curtis Granderson and Magglio Ordonez whip themselves up into a nationalistic fervor so intense that they come to blows and then both demand trades. I want Jeter to talk about the toxic environment created by the presence of Red Sox players and former Yankees. I want David Wright and Jimmy Rollins to use this forum as an excuse to decide the NL East crown in the most logical fashion possible, pistols at dawn on the pitcher’s mound.

But no. Instead we get stories like this, where injured players are sticking around and other players are happy to sit the bench or take limited playing time just for the honor of being part of this team. Where’s a T.O. or a Latrell Sprewell when you really need them? Can we really allow this love fest to continue unabated?

But until that time I’m going to swallow my bile and cheer like a pre-pubescent girl at an early 90’s New Kids on the Block concert as the announcers rattle off the Pedroia to Jeter to Youkilis inning ending double-play. USA! USA! USA!

15 Comments

haha I know! it is so weird! Did you see Jeter and Youkilis joking around like old friends in the dugout in the USA/Venezuela game? It was the funniest thing I have ever seen!
Melissahttp://clemsongirlbaseball.mlblogs.com

I love the T.O. and Sprewell comment. Had me laughing on that one. I love these guys coming together to compete. I didn’t feel like the ’06 team really did that. This time really seems different. But this is coming from a Cubs fan.

Nevermind the Japanese, Team USA has to look out for the Netherlands! Or Australia. And as a Twins fan, nothing would make me happier than if Maggs and Granderson were actually traded, preferably to the International League.
-Erinhttp://plunking-gomez.mlblogs.com

Who needs TO and Latrell now that Barkley is out of jail? If you need someone to spice up the love fest, he’s your man! I heard TO was heading north to Buffalo anyway. Ashhttp://ashleymarshall.mlblogs.com

First, there were images of Papi and Joba hanging out at a Las Vegas trade show in the off-season. Now, we have Jeter, Pedroia and Youklis sleeping over at each other’s homes. This is too much! Bring back the bitterness! The hatred! Baseball the way it should be!

You gotta fight for your right to baseballl. I’m thinking this group of guys is like the team basketball and want to revenge their loss. I don’t see any fistacuffs breaking out so wait till the season.
Tomhttp://rockymountainway.mlblogs.com

Davey Johnson’s the manager. It’s only a matter of time before he splits the team into two squads and forces them to duel to the death, or schedule an exhibition game against a Chinese little league team and finish what he started at the Olympics.

Seriously, why didn’t we just put Milton Bradley on the squad? That would have been good for some hyjinks. I also like the idea of Jose Offerman on the team. Those other teams would think twice before they tried anything funny.
-A

Having AROD at third might have complicated things even more. Maybe thats why he wanted to play for the Dominican? I could see those guys (Youkilus, Pedroia) hating AROD. Not so much Jeter, he seems like a likeable enough person even though he is an arch-rival.http://homerfoodandhistory.mlblogs.com/

Dude, seriously, at least for the sake of the fans, the Yankee players must not pretend to like the Red Sox players. Why not just let all that hate out? Great entry, we need more tension in the WBC!http://kaybee.mlblogs.com

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